Commission for State Aid established pursuant to public law 1885 chapter 488, “An Act for the relief of disabled and needy soldiers and sailors of the late war, and the needy widows and children of deceased soldiers and sailors”, approved April 23, 1885 (C#0210 – Acts & Resolves, of the General Assembly, Vol. 89). Commissioners consisted of Eugene A. Cory, Commander of the Department of Rhode Island, Grand Army of the Republic serving as ex – officio Chairman, Elisha Dyer Jr., Adjutant General ex – officio Secretary & seven veteran soldiers or sailors of the war including William E. Hubbard (resigned, succeeded by William O. Thatcher May 16, 1886) of Woonsocket; Ansel D. Nickerson of Pawtucket, Walter A. Read of Chepachet, Herbert F. Bennett of Bristol, Gideon Spencer of East Greenwich, William A. Stedman of Newport & George Carmichael Jr. of Shannock. Appropriation of $5,000 (later increased to $10,000) annually allocated with State divided into eight districts for administrated purposes. Consolidated district returns submitted to Adjutant General Dyer in capacity of commission secretary and published in annual reports through 1889.

January Session, 1889, permanent soldiers home established by public law chapter 733, approved April 23 “An Act to establish and maintain a Soldiers’ Home, and to provide for the relief of needy Union Soldiers, Sailors and Marines of the late war, and the dependents of deceases Soldiers, Sailors and Marines.” (C#00210 – Public Laws of the General Assembly, Vol. 97)

3. Volume labled Orphans of Rhode Island Soldiers (Army & Navy) 1866. containing names of 220 orphans & half orphans of Rhode Island soldiers giving name of father, residence & ages, alphabetical. Volume likely compiled pursuant public law 1885 chapter 488, “An Act for the relief of disabled and needy soldiers and sailors of the late war. Sec. 6. “Commission shall ascertain the whole number of soldiers and sailors of the late war and also the number of widows giving number that have remarried and the number of children of deceased soldiers & sailors residing within the Sate.”